Tusla statement on the publication of ‘Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland’ conducted by UCD.

Commenting on the study, Clare Murphy, Director of Services and Integration (Interim), Tusla said: “Tusla is acutely aware of and remains concerned about the increased risk of child sexual exploitation of vulnerable children and young people, whether relating to children and young people in our care or those in the wider community. We’ve just received the study and will carefully review and consider its findings and recommendations.

“Children in care are a particularly vulnerable group, and this is a very complex issue, and one that we are continually working to address with our colleagues in the relevant government departments and other state agencies”.

Some of the key measures informing this work in Tusla include:

• The Child Exploitation (CSE) Procedure in 2021, in partnership with An Garda Síochána, which provides Tusla staff and carers with information on how to recognise indicators of child sexual exploitation, how to make appropriate referrals and how to respond to cases where children may be at risk of sexual exploitation.
• The joint working protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána, which forms an integral part of the responses to child abuse and neglect, particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation, and includes regular meetings with An Garda Siochana

The establishment of an anti-trafficking working group in readiness for the Department of Justice, 'Third National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking of Human Beings', which includes the area of child sexual exploitation.